Fluid control valve



March 16, 1943. w. A. RAY 2,313,890

FLUID CONTROL VALVE Filed 001;. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 El-? ill i (Ittorneg March 16, 1943. w. A. RAY

FLUID CONTROL VAL'VE Filed Oct. 4, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gttorneg Patented M r, 16,;

UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE 2 rwm 02:32 1. vaLvr: I

WilliamLlhmLosAngeles, o-ur vllill l iiilvfllbll ochbel' l, 1921, Serial N0. 413,819 5 Cums. (01. 137-144) My present invention relates to fluid control valves and particularly to those of the type adapted to control fluid flow through both a main and a supplemental outlet. The invention, while not so limited, has particular utility in connection with a safety valve of the type wherein a main closure member is maintained in open position by means responsive to a controlling condition-such as that due to the existence of flame at a pilot burner for a main burner whose fuel supply is controlled by the valve-and is released upon extinction of the pilot burnerfiame, so that it then closes and must subsequently be "manually reset to its open position. When the safety valve closes, it is desirable that the supply of fuel to, the extinguished pilot burner also be automatically shut oil. until the valve is reset. It is therefore a general object of my invention to provide supplemental valve means for so controlling the pilot burner.

A combination valve of the character described is disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 377,274, filed February 4, 1941, and it is an object of the present invention to improve that valve in certain respects.

Another object is the provision of a combination valve of the character described wherein the supplemental valve comprises a unit which is independent of the means for operating the main or safety valve, to the extent that it is only indirectly operated and is maintained in its open position by the safety valve whenthe same is open.

Another object is the provision of a supplemental valve which is so constructed and arranged that it is substantially leakproof.

Another object is the provision of a combination valve of the character described which is particularly adapted to the control of a unit of a multiple-unit burner system.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be found in the description, the ings, and the appended claims.

For complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view, mainly in vertical section, of a combination valve embodying my inven tion;

Figure 2 is a plan of the same valve with the cap 25 cut away along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken along the irregular line 2-2 of Fig. l;

draw-w Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. l: and

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of a multipleunit burner control system, illustrating a preferred application of the valve shown in the other figures.

In the drawings, the numeral ll indicates an upper, or main, valve casing, to the open bottom end of which is secured a sub-casing l2. The main casing II has an inlet connection l3 and an outlet connection H and is internally bored in its upper portion to provide a, tapered seat ii for a correspondingly tapered plug I 6. In the bottom portion of this plug is a concen tric opening or passage H, from the upper end of which branches a lateral passage Iii which, in the rotation of the plug, is adapted to register with a lateral passage is inthe casing which connects with the outlet connection H. The portion of the casing I l surrounding the cylindrical bottom end of the plug seat l5 forms a knife-edged annular valve seat 20, cooperable with which is a closure member generally indicated at 2!. The cylindrical lower portion or stem 22 of this member is slidable in a bushing 23 which is secured in a central opening in a disk 24. The marginal portion of this disk is received in a shallow recess formed in the bottom of the casing II and is held therein by means contained in the sub-casing I2 and which will hereinafter be described. The closure member 2i is guided at its upper end by a plurality of spaced portions 25 extending from the inner wall of the casing II.

For the operation of the closure member 2|, a channelled arm 26 is provided which is pivoted at one of its ends on a bracket 21 secured to an upper surface of the sub-casing l2, the bifurcated other end of the arm abutting the opposite flat sides of a hexagonal upper portion of the stem 22 and having elongated openings for receiving the projecting ends of a pin 28 secured in that portion. For actuating the arm 26, a rod 29 is provided which is reciprocable in a bore formed in an upper portion of the main casing. This bore is enlarged toward'its upper end to accommodate a spring 3| surrounding the rod and urging the same upward so that normally the conical upper surface of the enlarged lower end of the rod is in engagement with the casing.

88 pressed position (wherein leakage around the rod is prevented by packing means 33 provided below the spring 3|) with its lower portion 32 in engagement with the arm 26, the same being in a moved position such that the closure member 2| is held away from its seat 20. Biasing the closure member toward its seat is a torsion spring 34 connected to the arm 26 and bracket 21..

Rotatabiy mounted on an extreme upper portion of the casing II is a manually-operable hollow cap 35, the undersurface of which is annularly recessed at 36 to normally provide a clearance space for a ball 31 which rests on the top end of rod 2 9 in the upper end of the enlargement of bore 30. The cap is mounted for free rotation by means of a plurality of balls 38 which are arranged in cooperating semi-spherical annular grooves formed in the inner side wall of the cap and in the adjacent cylindrical portion of the casing. A plug 39 closes an opening in the cap whereby the balls can be introduced. As is better seen in Fig. 3, a wedge-shaped member or cam 40 is secured, in the recess 36 in a position such that, in the manual rotation of the cap in a clockwise direction as viewed from above, its inclined front end engages the ball 31 and forces it downward, thereby operating the closure member 2| through the agency of rod 29 and arm.

26-the parts being shown in such positions in the drawings.

The cylindrical upper portion 4| of the plug I6 is reduced in diameter at its upper extremity, this reduced portion being milled to provide opposite fiat sides and threaded for a nut ,42. Held to the lug by this nut is a segment plate 43 having a broached central opening corresponding to the fiat-sided portion of the plug; and below the plate, in arecess of the casing around the plug portion 4 i, is a compression spring 44 which urges the plug upward into firm engagement with its tapered seat I5. The upper portion of the cap has a pair of recesses 45 (Fig. 2) for receiving tongue portions 46 of the plate 43, whereby the plug can be rotated by means of the cap. These tongues and recesses are so proportioned that there is-about 15 lost-motion between the cap and the plug-driving plate 43, so that when the cap is released it is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the upward movement of rod 29 (under the influence of spring 3|) acting on, cam 40, there being no material resistance to such rotation of the cap since it is not now con- ,nected to the plug on account of the lost-motion permitted between these parts. If such lost-motion were not provided, there would be the possibility that, on account of the relatively great friction between the tapered plug and its seat, the closure member 2| would be held in open position upon release of the capregardless of the condition of safety means (hereinafter to be described) for so holding it. Rotation of the plate 43, and hence that of the plug I6, is limited to an angle of about 110 by a pair of stops 4! which extend from the top surface of the casing II and are engageable by the segment shoulders 48 and 49. When the plug is rotated, by means of cap 35, in a counterclockwise direction through this 110 from its closed position as shown in the drawing, the plate shoulders 49 are in engagement with the stops 48 and the plug passage i3 is in register with the casing passage IS. The reason for the plug, in its closed position, being at an angle greater than 90 with respect to its full-open position, is so that there is then a con- Ill secured to the closure member stem 22, and i siderable distance between the mouths of the passages i3 and I! which ensures against possible leakage in spite of wear adjacent these mouths.

Carried on the bottom end of the closure member stem 22 is an armature 55 which is cooper able with an electromagnet, generally indicated at 56, mounted in the sub-casing I2 and comprising a 'U-shaped core 51 which carries on one of its arms an energizing coil 58. The leads of this coil are soldered to a pair of hexagonal terminal posts 59, lnsulatingly secured to the bottom wall of the sub-casing by hexagon-headed hollow screws 60 (Fig. 4) in which are threaded screws 6| for the connection of external wiring. To prevent possible rotation of the posts 59 (and consequent damage to the coil leads) when external electrical connections are made or removed, a disk '52 of insulating material is provided, the disk fitting snugly within the sub-housing and having a pair of hexagonal openings for the posts. The disk rests on the upper insulating washers 63 of the terminal posts and on a raised portion 64 of the sub-casing. and also serves to hold in position the core 51, the arms of which extend upward through a generally-rectangular central opening in the disk. A U-shaped metal strap 65 embrases-the medial portion of the core and is outwardly bent-over at its ends below the disk 62 to hold the bottom of the core in a recess 66 provided for it in the bottom wall of the sub-casing. 4

The disk 62 is held from vertical movement by a pair of opposed cup-shaped shells 6'! and 63 which fit snugly within the sub-housing l2, and the interengaging end walls of which are apertured to receive the upper end portions of the core arms. The combined length of the shells is such that, when in position, the mouth of the upper shell 63 is flush with the upper surface of the sub-housing so that the shells serve not only to hold the disk 62 and the electromagnet in position, but also the plate 24 in its recess in the upper casing-H (through a gasket 69 which seals the junction between the upper casing and the sub-casing).

The armature 55 is loosely mounted on a rod is of rectangular shape and only slightly larger than the pole faces formed at the extremities of the arms of core 51 and the space between them. Since the nickel-iron alloy, of which the armature is preferably constructed, is expensive and not readily obtainable at this time, there is a worthwhile saving of material in providing such an armature in place of one of conventional circular shape. To limit rotation of the armature on rod 10 to a small angle, the armature is transversely slotted at H to freely receive the straight sided portion of the otherwise cylindrical head 12 of the rod 'ID.- The portion between the rod and its head is rounded to permit the armature to rock slightly in all directions so that it can conform exactly to the pole faces of the core when it is magnetically held thereto and there is an upward force on the rod 10. This is important, since the electromagnet 56 isv designed to operate on power only sufficient to magnetically hold the armature, against an opposing force, after it is first manually brought into engagement with its pole faces, and any slight misalignment of these parts would greatly weaken the holding force.

The armature is normally (when stem 22 is in its movement of the armature and rod 10, so that the armature can be brought into firm engage-. ment with the pole faces (as shown in Fig. 1) without the possibility of damage or distortion of the parts by excessive downward force on the stem 22.

In a thickened portion of the side wall of the sub-housing I2 is a vertical bore ll. the bottom end of which is closed by a screw plug ll. within thebore I1 is a supplemental-valve ball 10, having a diameter considerably less than that of the bore, which is upwardly urged bya compression spring 00, the lower end of which is received in a recess in the plug II. The bore I1 is reduced in diameter toward its. upper end to provide a seat for the ball, and is still further reduced at its uppermost end to form a close guide for a rod 02, the bottom and top ends of which are respectively in engagement with the ball I0 and the underside of the cross. portion of the channelled arm 20. To provide a relatively long leak-proof guide for the rod 82, a boss 02 is formed on the upper portion of the sub-casing around this rod. Branching laterally from opposite sides of the lower end of bore 11 are passages 04 and 00 which extend to the exterior of the sub-casing, their outer ends being enlarged to receive pip fittings 00 and 01. It will be noted that the passages 04 and II are in continuous communication regardless of the vertical position of the ball which is centered in its bore by spring 00 so that there is always a space between the ball and the wall of the bore. Branching from the portion of bore 11 above seat 8| is another passage 00 (Fig. 1) which.

extends at right-angles to the passages, "-00 and terminates in an enlargement 00 wherein is threaded a pipe fitting 00. The supplemental valve structure described in this paragraph may be considered as being removably attachable to the rest of the organization, since, without in any way interfering with the operation of the main valve, a sub-casing, from which the supplemental valve means are omitted, may be substituted for the one shown.

In Fig. 5, a plurality of the valves described hereinabove, and indicated by the numeral 03, are shown connected to supply fuel to the several main burners 0 0 and associated pilot burners 05 of a multiple-unit furnace 00, the pilot burners also serving to heat thermoelectric devices (thermocouples or thermopiles) 01, each of which is connected by a cable 00 to the eletromagnet 50 of its associated valve. The main burners are connected to the valve outlet connections It,

the pilot burners to the supplemental fittings 90, and the source of gas is connected by a conduit 09, through T-connections, to the mainvalve inlet connections l3. Connected in the conduit 99, ahead of the valves 90, is an electrically operated valve l00, a conventional construction, which is automatically controlled by a thermostat i0| responsive to the temperature of 'a space heated by the furnace. The valve I00operates normally to turn on and of! the supply of fuel to all the main burners 94 as a unit and, for the sake of simplicity, it will be assumed to be continuously open in connection with the following description of the operation of valve 93. For the supply of fuel to the pilot burners 90, a pipe I02 is connected to the conduit 99 at a point ahead of the automatic valve I00 and to the supplemental inlet fitting 06 of the nearest of the valves 03. The other valves II are interconnected Operation In Fig. 1 the valve is is shown with its parts (in the positions which they assume when the leases its armature by pipes I03 extending 7s rod 29 moves burner.

cap 20 is manually operated to the limit of its rotation in a clockwise direction, and is held in that Position. It will be observed that the plug it is in its closed position, so that fuel supply to the main burner is obstructed in spite of the fact that the safety" closure member 2| is open; and the supplemental valve ball 10 is held away from its seat 0i by the engagement of the de: pressed arm 20 with the rod 02, so that fuel can now pass from the supplemental inlet chamber or bore 'i'l through es and 09 to the pilot burner 00, where it is lighted by a match or other suitable means. The cap 35 is maintained in its manually-held position until the'thermoelectric device 01 has become sufficiently heated by the flame of the pilot burner to generate current in an amount sufllcient to cause the electromagnet 00 to hold the armature II inengagement with the pole faces of its core against the force of the operating-arm spring 04, whereupon the cap may be released. When this occurs, the arm 20 remains in its depressed position (due to its connection with the magnetically-held closure member stem 22) but the upwardunder the force of spring ii, the resultant rotation of cap is producing no material resistance to the movement of the rod on account of the lost-motion connection between the cap and the plug l6. It will be understood that the angle of rotation of the cap, through which the ball 31 is in engagement with the cam 40, is less than that of the lost-motion between the cap and the tongues. Since the supplemental-valve ball 19 is now retained in open position'hy the magnetically-held arm 26 acting through rod 82, fuel still passes to the pilot The plug may now be rotated in a counterclockwise direction, by means of the cap, to the limit of its rotation wherein the shoulders 49 of plate 43 are in engagement with the stops 4'l, and the plug passage I0 is in register with the main outlet passage l9 so that fuel passes (through the now-open safety valve) to the main burner where it is ignited by the pilot burner flame. Rotation of the plug back and forth between its open and closed positions is now effective to control fuel supply to the particular main burner to which it is connected, so that any desired number of the individual units of the furnace can selectively be placed under the automatic control of the electrically operated valve I00 to suit particular heating requirements.

In the event of extinction of the flame of one of the pilot burners,'upon resultant cessation of current generation by the thermoelectric device, the electromagnet to which it is connected reand the safety closure member 2| moves upward into engagement with its seat under the force of spring 34, so that fuel supply through the open plug valve to the main bumer is obstructed. In the resultant upward movement of arm 26, the supplemental valve ball is moved into tight engagement with its seat 8| by the force of spring Ill, thereby shutting oi! the supply of fuel to the extinguished pilot burner, there being clearance between the rod 02 and the arm 2 when the same is in its raised position. It will be observed that the supplemental value is operated and held-open eflectively solely by the safety closuremember and is thus relatively independent 01 the main operating means.

To reinitiate operation of the burner unit, the valve 83 must be reset." This is accomplished by rotating the cap through its limitof movement in a clockwise direction (to the position shown in Fig. 1) and holding it in that position while the pilot burner is again lighted, as was described above. It will be observed that, as the cap is rotated, the plug is brought to its fully- -closed position before the safety and supplemental valves are opened, the opening of these valves being eflected only during approximately theflnal of rotation of the cap.

While I have herein shown and described a specific embodiment of my invention, I wish-it to be understood that modifications may be made connected to said first valve means for operating the same, means engageable with said arm for moving the first valve means to its open position,

means responsive to a controlling condition for retaining said first valve means in its open position against the force of said bias, a supplemental valve structure having an inlet and an outlet opening, supplemental valve means movable between an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said supplemental openings, and means engaged by said arm for moving the supplemental valve means to its open position in the opening movement of said first valve means, the supplemental valve means being retained in open position by said arm regardless of subsequent movement of the means for moving the first valve means.

2. In a fiuid control valve: a casing having an inlet and an outlet opening, first valve means movable between an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said openings, a pivoted arm connected to said first valve means for operating the same, means movable into and out of engagement with said arm and effective to move the first valve means to its open position, means responsive to a controlling condition for retaining said first valve means in its open position against the force of said bias, a supplemental valve structure having an inlet and an outlet opening, supplemental valve means movable be tween an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said supplemental openings, and

' reciprocable means sealingly extending within said casing and engaged byv said am for movinl the supplemental valve means to its open position 5 in the opening movement oi said first valve means, the supplemental valve means being retained in open position by said arm regardless of movement of the arm-moving means.

3. In a fluid control valve: a casing having aninlet and an outlet opening, first valve means movable between an openand a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said openings, an arm for operating said first valve means and con- 5 nected thereto so as to move therewith, means engageable with said arm for moving the first valve means to its open position, means responsive to a controlling condition for retaining said first valve means in its open position against the force of said bias and said arm in its moved position; a supplemental valve structure having an inlet and an outlet opening, supplemental valve means movable between an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said supplemental openings, and means engaged by said arm for moving the supplemental valve means to its open position in the opening movement of said first valve means, said supplemental valve means 80 beingretained in open position by said arm regardless of subsequent movement of the armmoving means. I

4. In a fluid control 'valve: a casing having an inlet and. an outlet opening, first valve means reciprocable between an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said openings,

a pivoted arm pivotally connected to said first valve means for reciprocating the same, means 40 movable into and out of engagement with said arm and effective to move the first valve means to its open position, means responsive to a controlling condition for retaining said first valve means in its open position against the force of said bias and said arm in its moved position, a supplemental valve structure having an inlet and an outlet opening, supplemental valve means movable between an open and a closed position and biased to said closed position for controlling communication between said supplemental openlugs, and reciprocable means sealingly extending within said casing and engaged by said arm for moving the supplemental valve means to its open position in the opening movement of said first valve means, the supplemental valve means being retained in open position by said arm regardless of subsequent movement of the armmoving means.

5. A fluid control valve, as set forth in claim 4, wherein the means responsive to a controlling condition comprises an armature connected to said first valve means and an electromagnet for magnetically holding the armature and thereby retaining the first valve sitions.

' WILLIAM- A. RAY.

means in its open po- 

